Jacqueline Jackson

lakepoem # 7

doing the final summer laundry
the sheets beach towels
frayed shorts shirts sweats
I grapple with the change machine
the woman in charge known as
the laundry lady takes the bill
strops it against a corner
you have to smooth them
and pat them
and straighten them out she says
and that goes for george and abe
and hamilton and my old man
you know us women
are crock pots
we just keep going
and going and going
men are microwaves
I laugh and grab a pencil
hey if you print that she says
send me a copy